The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1887-05-11
loves %Contagion.

J was The daughter OF q Memphis
physician, and his only child. In my
seventh year I lost my mother, but the
polgnancyof my childish grief was in
5000 measure alleviated when six
months later my father brought me q
littlo playmate Of my own age. She
Was liW ward, and we grew from child
hood to glrlhood beneath the same roof,
and for my part l "a say I loved Nata-
lie Cho3tor as a sister. How beautiful
SHE was ia the first flush Of her peerless
WomonloOdl
~ Wonder will he be her latest con-
l~nestl' asked myself, when for the
irsltime Lindon Stafford and she stood
face to face. He was my fathers young
assistant, and perhaps the only man she
oyer met who, panoplied in the armor
OF 2 cold Indifference, seemed insensible
70 her charms. And 1 know this indlf-
t%arcnce piqued a vanity that the flattery
Of Tongues had famed into q passion.
Docs 1t not occur to you. MYRTLE"
sire sad 10 mo one afternoon. that our
young doctor is u man OF singulariy
~phlegmatic temperamentY"
''lIe has eve made love to you,
Neta!ie,"l answered dryly. yet it
ought TO be a novel sensation to meet a
! mon WIZ oOSO INV AthiA III lOfO dhSl MOl-
sup you"
Her cheeks flushed slightly, but she
rctorted with q laugh: "Would 1t not
bD a moro novel sensation still to con-
strain linn into idolatryp They say
tl,Ag natnres the least demonstratiYe are
capable of tho strongest feelings ana
\ tlutthc spark once applied to the latent
/ tlre YoN are treated to a conflagration."
size spoke lightly, but the glance that
Aa5hnd rom the dusky beauty Of her
eyes cor vinced me that if all tho de-
ysGes 9f - fascinating woman did not
fan horale would bring Lindon Stafford
~ her Feet. L, who Watched Mr.. Stat
iord keenly, saw that he was struggling
Nith q passl0n that he felt would only
|Nripg.him unhappiness.,
.i}ut Tho hour had come when strong
licli souls would be tried iii the cru.
Fl(Ir.of Il great ailllction, and Lindon
stafford, standing face to face with I'M
compromising necessity, dare no longer
(tittar away existence in a dream of
\ love. The terrible scourge OF yellow
foyer mad swept over Memphis and
~ithln q week presented all the appear
OF II city Of the dead. In their AFFECT
a terror the people fled they cared not
Wl1thec, and Gear for tile time being
Cr,isi.od all nObler instincts of humanity
from Hearts where craven se~lislness
We1olnlnated.
My fathers first thought was for
Natatie's safety and mine, and to this
CID he t%elegraphed to Miss Chester's
n.!ier guardian, who was then a resi-
don't Of a Northern State. In due time
thAt gentleman arrived to carry his
beautiful ward and me far from the
reach of the impending danger, but no
remoustrance, no entreaty, could in
duce mo tO desert what 1 conceived to
Ne my post Of duty. Shall l aver forget
Uiat night when Natalie left us. Be.
fore bidding her good-by 1 had hurried
lNrrnt"!rs for q Parcel she had forgotten,
AIijD returning NM minute or 50 TO
iid Dr. St&iiDri ID the loOui, ! paused
outside The door.
"intolded 70 say iNrowei. sic said
KS, with oowntast eyes SHE held ont
= 'NQd.
II nus tllink lne very cosardly
20 fee from danger while Myrtle insists
on containing"
Miss Craig's place is by her fathers
soc, he answered.; ''but it would be
}H3t1a than madness in your friends to
allow you to Incur risks that could
BRING no possible good to any ono.
ami then you arc too young and beau
Eitfui to die.n
And If this parting be forever what
would you say to me, MI. Stafford?n
~ would say iarewell-ouly fare.
Well," ho replied, cvasively, as lie re-
leasud her hand.
lsrr eyes looked into his, and Il cry
escaped him rs he caught her in his
AIMS, and if II mans love ever went out
10 g woman it was in that lingering kiss
Ne pressed upon her lips.
i turned away and, with trembling
i,tabs and sinking heart, stole quietly
UPSTAIRS. For | had learned to love
THIS man even with a hopelcssness that
Intensified a passion which had changed
tAe current OF my life into IL channel
whose source was bitterness and sorrow.
an not going to linger over the days
thAC folio we'd when. as a hospital
nutse, l tried to forget my folly.
within two weeks the summons came
% ne only one that loved me and | was
lot an orphan. DR.. Stafford was also
stricken down, and l nurSed HIM
through his illness to recovery, and
wtIen the scturge at length had passed
away | found myself alone and almost
%tncndless in the world.
One day Lindon Stafford, while still
pa'e and emaciated. came to me and
asked me to ba his wife. / knew too
wuii he did not love me. I knew his
every thought was with the beautiful
Natalie in her Northern home; but, oh.
my God! l could not lot him leave me,
and ia the blind fatalism Of Il woman's
love cheated myself into the belief